Croatia Holds First Training Session in Brazil

Croatia head coach Niko Kovač has put his side their paces for the first time in Brazil on Wednesday evening…

After cancelling the first two planned sessions, one because of tiredness from the long flight to Brazil, and the next because of the heat, Kovač held his first training session with the side at their Praia do Forte camp.

“Members of the coaching staff who arrived a day earlier were at the ground at 10am and said it was too hot at that time of day to train and there was no point training. We have decided that we will train from 17:00, or 18:00, when the sun goes down a little and it is less hot,” said Kovač, before the side went out for their late afternoon session on Wednesday.

Croatia will face Australia in their last warm up match on Friday, and Kovač says he will use the match to have a look at a couple of things before facing hosts Brazil next Thursday.

“Against Australia we will get an answer to one or two questions we have. There is always the chance of injuries, even during training. We wanted this match mainly to adjust to the climate because its one thing training in Austria and playing in Osijek (Mali), and another playing against serious opposition in Brazil. Australia play nice, vertical and aggressive, and definitely can surprise at this World Cup, but we will strive for a positive result against them,” said Kovač. (pic: Drago Sopta / HNS)